Channel frequency reuse for narrow beam video streaming based upon mobile terminal location information

ABSTRACT

Transmitting streamed video to at least one wireless terminal by a wireless network having a channel frequency reuse pattern. The wireless network receives a request for the streamed video from the at least one wireless terminal and receives position information from the at least one wireless terminal requesting the streamed video. The wireless network selects a transceiving device to service transmission of the streamed video to the at least one wireless terminal. The transceiving device is allocated a first channel frequency set of the channel frequency reuse pattern. The wireless network or a component thereof selects a channel from a second channel frequency set that is different from the first channel frequency set. The transceiving device then, using a directional antenna, transmits the streamed video to the at least one wireless terminal in a direction based upon the position information using the selected channel.

REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation, to the following U.S. Utility PatentApplication which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Applicationfor all purposes:

1. U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 12/056,905, entitled “ChannelFrequency Reuse for Narrow Beam Video Streaming Based Upon MobileTerminal Location Information,” filed Mar. 27, 2008, pending.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to video/audio content transport andmore particularly to the transmission of such video/audio content in awireless system.

2. Related Art

The broadcast of digitized video/audio information (multimedia content)is well known. Limited access communication networks such as cabletelevision systems, satellite television systems, and direct broadcasttelevision systems support delivery of digitized multimedia content viacontrolled transport medium. In the case of a cable modem system, adedicated network that includes cable modem plant is carefullycontrolled by the cable system provider to ensure that the multimediacontent is robustly delivered to subscribers' receivers. Likewise, withsatellite television systems, dedicated wireless spectrum robustlycarries the multi-media content to subscribers' receivers. Further, indirect broadcast television systems such as High Definition (HD)broadcast systems, dedicated wireless spectrum robustly delivers themulti-media content from a transmitting tower to receiving devices.Robust delivery, resulting in timely receipt of the multimedia contentby a receiving device is critical for the quality of delivered video andaudio.

Some of these limited access communication networks now supporton-demand programming in which multimedia content is directed to one, ora relatively few number of receiving devices. The number of on-demandprograms that can be serviced by each of these types of systems dependsupon, among other things, the availability of data throughput between amultimedia source device and the one or more receiving devices.Generally, this on-demand programming is initiated by one or moresubscribers and serviced only upon initiation.

Publicly accessible communication networks, e.g., Local Area Networks(LANs), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs),Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWANs), and cellular telephone networks,have evolved to the point where they now are capable of providing datarates sufficient to service streamed multimedia content. The format ofthe streamed multimedia content is similar/same as that that is servicedby the limited access networks, e.g., cable networks, satellitenetworks. However, each of these communication networks is shared bymany users that compete for available data throughput. Resultantly,streamed multimedia content is typically not given preferentialtreatment by these networks.

Generally, streamed multimedia content is formed/created by a firstelectronic device, e.g., web server, personal computer, user equipment,etc., transmitted across one or more communication networks, andreceived and processed by a second electronic device, e.g., personalcomputer, laptop computer, cellular telephone, WLAN device, or WWANdevice. In creating the multimedia content, the first electronic deviceobtains/retrieves multimedia content from a video camera or from astorage device, for example, and encodes the multimedia content tocreate encoded audio and video frames according to a standard format,e.g., Quicktime, (motion picture expert group) MPEG-2, MPEG-4, or H.264,for example. The encoded audio and video frames are placed into datapackets that are sequentially transmitted from the first electronicdevice onto a servicing communication network, the data packetsaddressed to one or more second electronic device(s). The sequentiallytransmitted sequence of encoded audio/video frames may be referred to asan audio/video stream. One or more communication networks carry the datapackets to the second electronic device. The second electronic devicereceives the data packets, reorders the data packets if required, andextracts the encoded audio and video frames from the data packets. Adecoder of the second electronic device decodes the encoded audio and/orvideo frames to produce audio and video data. The second electronicdevice then stores the video/audio data and/or presents the video/audiodata to a user via a user interface.

The audio/video stream typically traverses a number of differing typesof communication networks, e.g., LANs, WANs, the Internet, WWANs, WLANs,one or more cellular networks, etc. Some of these networks may notsupport the audio/video stream reliability and/or with sufficient datarate, resulting in poor quality audio/video at the second electronicdevice. In particular, wireless networks have limited throughput sharedby multiple users and can suffer from environmental conditions thatinterfere with wireless transmissions. Nonetheless, these wirelessnetworks are called upon to support high bandwidth usage videostreaming. Thus, a need exists for a structures and operations thatsupport video streaming within such wireless networks without adverselyinterfering with other usage of the wireless networks. Furtherlimitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approacheswill become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison ofsuch systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth inthe remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operationthat are further described in the following Brief Description of theDrawings, the Detailed Description of the Drawings, and the claims.Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the invention madewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating operations for delivering streamedvideo (and audio) to at least one wireless terminal according to one ormore embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating a wireless network servicing aplurality of wireless terminals according to one or more embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating frequency reuse criterion that may beemployed according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an abbreviated system diagram illustrating a wireless networkconstructed and operating according to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a service area of a transceiving deviceof a wireless network operating according to one or more embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating multiple transceiving devices of awireless network operating according to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a transceiving device of awireless network constructed according to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless terminal constructedaccording to one or more embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a wireless terminalaccording to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating operations for delivering streamedvideo (and audio) to at least one wireless terminal according to one ormore embodiments of the present invention. The operations 100 of FIG. 1commence with a wireless transceiving device, e.g., base station, accesspoint, etc., of a wireless network receiving a request for streamedvideo from at least one wireless terminal (Step 102). Such request maycome from a single wireless terminal or from multiple wirelessterminals. The request may come via single transceiving device or viamultiple transceiving devices of the wireless network. Operationcontinues with the transceiving device of the wireless network receivingposition information from the at least one wireless terminal requestingstreamed video (Step 104). Next, the wireless network (a wirelesstransceiving device itself in some operations) selects a transceivingdevice of the wireless network to service transmission of the streamedvideo to the at least one wireless terminal (Step 106).

According to the operations 100 of FIG. 1, the selected transceivingdevice is allocated a first channel frequency set of a channel frequencyreuse pattern within the wireless network. The channel frequency reusepattern of the wireless network to which the transceiving device isconstrained may be a static allocation selected according to systemengineering parameters. However, the channel frequency reuse pattern ofthe wireless network may change over time based upon system operatingconditions such as signal propagation characteristics, system usage, andother engineering criterion.

Operation continues with the wireless network (wireless transceivingdevice) selecting a channel from a second channel frequency set that isdifferent from the first channel frequency set (Step 108). According tothe operation of Step 108, the transceiving device of the wirelessnetwork is not normally allocated channels of the second channelfrequency set and any use of one or more channels of the second channelfrequency set “violates” the channel frequency reuse pattern of thewireless network. However, for the particular operation of transmittingthe streamed video to the at least one wireless terminal, thetransceiving device is assigned a channel frequency from the secondchannel frequency set in a manner that “violates” the frequency reusepattern of the wireless network. Operation continues with thetransceiving device using a directional antenna to transmit the streamedvideo to the at least one wireless terminal using the assigned channel(Step 110). The streamed video is transmitted in a direction based uponthe position information received from the at least one wirelessterminal at Step 104 using the channel of the second channel frequencyset selected/assigned at Step 108.

The wireless network may be a cellular communication wireless network, aWireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN),or another wireless network. When the wireless network is a cellularcommunication network, for example, the wireless network may operateaccording to a cellular communication standard such as one or more ofthe Global Standards for Mobile communications (GSM) operatingstandards, one or more Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operatingstandards, one or more Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) operatingstandards, and/or a combination of these. When the wireless networkoperates according to a WLAN operating standard, the wireless networkmay operate consistently with one or more of the IEEE 802.11x operatingstandards. When the wireless network operates according to a wirelesswide area network operating standard, the wireless network may operateconsistent with the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access(WiMAX) operating standards.

According to various aspects of the operations of Step 104, positioninformation received by the wireless network from the at least onewireless terminal may include Global Positioning System (GPS)coordinates. In such case, the GPS coordinates received will be respectto the wireless terminals transmitting such GPS coordinates. When thecoordinates of the wireless terminals differ from one another, thedirectionality and relative width of the directional transmissions madeat Step 110 are set according to the multiple differing GPS coordinates.According to another aspect of the present invention, the wirelessnetwork, via a transceiving device, may send a position informationrequest to the at least one wireless terminal prior to receipt of theposition information from the at least one wireless terminal.

According to other operations of the present invention, the wirelesstransceiving device operating on the selected channel of the secondchannel frequency set will make transmissions at Step 110 in order tominimize interference with other wireless transceiving devices that areallocated channels within the second channel frequency set according tothe channel frequency reuse pattern. One technique for minimizing suchinterference is to coordinate in time transmissions of the streamedvideo by the transceiving device with transmissions of othertransceiving devices of the wireless network on the same channel.Another technique for minimizing interference is to temporarily removeavailability of the selected channel from other transceiving deviceswithin the wireless network. In such case, the selected channel istemporarily reassigned from another neighboring or adjacent transceivingdevice to the subject transceiving device in order to service thevideo/audio stream.

Still another technique for minimizing interference between thetransceiving device that transmits the streamed video to the at leastone wireless terminal and with another transceiving device using acommon channel is to control transmit power of the transmitted streamedvideo by the transceiving device. The control of transmit power of thetransceiving device in transmitting the video stream may differ fromnormal transmit power control within the wireless network. For example,in cellular networks, available transmit power of wireless transceivingdevices is typically fully allocated among serviced wireless terminals.According to the present invention, a technique may be employed whereinthe transmit power of the streamed video is based upon a receivedquality of the streamed video by one of the (a most poorly receiving)wireless terminals of the plurality of wireless terminals receiving thestreamed video. In such case, a decoder of one or more of the wirelessterminals receiving the streamed video may report decoding quality tothe transceiving device of the wireless network. Based upon the decodingquality of the wireless terminal(s), the transceiving device mayincrease or decrease the transmit power of the streamed video to thewireless terminal(s) receiving the streamed video. This operation,although perhaps inconsistent with standardized operations of a cellularnetwork, may help to reduce interference caused by the transceivingdevice in other cells to which the selected channel is allocated andoperational. Other techniques employed may simply include having aplurality of wireless terminals receiving the streamed video each reportreceived signal quality to the transceiving device. The signal qualitymay simply be used as an indicia of a transmit power level at which thestreamed video should be transmitted directionally by the transceivingdevice according to Step 110 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating a wireless network servicing aplurality of wireless terminals according to one or more embodiments ofthe present invention. Illustrated in FIG. 2 are a plurality oftransceiving devices 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, and 214. Each ofthese transceiving devices 202-214 may be a cellular base station.Alternately, each of these transceiving devices 202-214 may be awireless access point (WAP) of a WLAN or of a WWAN. Each of theplurality of transceiving devices 202-214 is allocated a first channelfrequency set of a channel frequency reuse pattern of the wirelessnetwork 200. Each of the transceiving devices 204-214 supports arespective service coverage area 216-228. While these service coverageareas 216-228 are illustrated simply as circular areas, the servicecoverage areas of the transceiving devices 202-214 will vary in size andshape based upon the manner in which the wireless network 200 isengineered. Each of the plurality of transceiving devices 202-214 withinthe respective service coverage areas 216-228 services at least onewireless terminal. These wireless terminals are referred generally vianumerals 220-246. While the structure and appearance of these wirelessterminals 220-246 is illustrated simply as a handheld device, each ofthese wireless terminals 220-246 could be another type of wirelessterminals such as a wirelessly enabled notebook computer, a wirelesslyenabled desktop computer, a wirelessly enabled PDA, or another type ofwirelessly enabled device capable of communicating with one or more ofthe transceiving devices 202-214 of the wireless network 200. Thestructure of a wireless transceiving device will be described in somedetail with reference to FIG. 7 while the structure of a wirelessterminal will be described in some detail with reference to FIG. 8.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, one ormore of the transceiving devices 202-214 operates consistently with theoperations 100 of FIG. 1. In doing so, during normal operations, thetransceiving devices service most communications according to a setchannel frequency reuse pattern. However, the streamed videocommunications of the present invention are serviced by “violating” thischannel frequency reuse pattern as was described with reference to FIG.1 and as will be described further hereinafter with reference to FIGS.3-9.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating frequency reuse criterion that may beemployed according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.A wireless network 300 operating according to embodiments of the presentinvention includes cells referred to via numerals 1-91. Each of thesecells 1-91 is serviced by at least one transceiving device of thewireless network 300. In a first set of operations, each of thetransceiving devices of the wireless network corresponding to theplurality of cells 1-91 is allocated a corresponding channel frequencyset of a channel frequency reuse pattern of the wireless network 300.Such channel frequency reuse pattern of the wireless network 300 isestablished to avoid intercell interference on common channels andadjacent channels across the wireless network 300. Referring to subjectcell 68, the cell 68 is assigned a first channel frequency set of thechannel frequency reuse pattern. Neighboring cells to cell 68, whichinclude cells 58, 59, 69, 77, 76 and 67, are assigned differing channelfrequency sets of the channel frequency reuse pattern. Further, cellsidentified by numeral 304 that surround the cells identified as 302,which include cells 47, 48, 49, 60, 70, 78, 85, 84, 83, 75, 66, and 57,may be assigned a third channel frequency set of the channel frequencyreuse pattern that differs from both the first channel frequency set andthe second channel frequency set. The allocation of these channelswithin the wireless network 300 is performed in order to avoid intercellinterference among adjacent (neighbor cells) and in some cases betweencells that are adjacent to neighbor cells.

According to the present invention, cell 68 is allocated the firstchannel frequency set in order to avoid intercell interference withneighboring cells and cells adjacent to neighboring cells. In a secondset of operations according to the present invention, the transceivingdevice corresponding to cell 68 uses a selected channel from a secondchannel frequency set that differs from its allocated first channelfrequency set to transmit streamed video to at least one wirelessterminal. Because operations according to the present invention maycause inter-cell interference, the transceiving device of cell 68transmits the streamed video to the at least one wireless terminal in adirection based upon positions of the wireless terminals as reported bythe wireless terminals. These aspects of the present invention will bedescribed further with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. However, in any case,the operations of the present invention in “violating” the channelfrequency reuse pattern must be carefully employed to avoid systemoperational degradation.

FIG. 4 is an abbreviated system diagram illustrating a wireless networkconstructed and operating according to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention. The wireless network 400 includes a wireless networkinfrastructure 402 communicatively coupled to a plurality oftransceiving devices 408, 410, 412, and 414. The plurality oftransceiving devices 404-414 services cells/coverage areas 416, 418,420, and 422, respectively. Transceiving device 408 servicescommunications with wireless terminals 424, 426, and 428. As shown,transceiving device 408 supports sectorized transmissions in sectors A,B, and C. Transceiving device 410 also supports communications withinrespective sectors A, B, and C for wireless terminals 430 and 432.Likewise, transceiving device 412 supports communications withincorresponding sectors A, B, and C with wireless terminals 434, 436, and438. Finally, transceiving device 414 supports sectorized communicationsin sectors A, B, and C with wireless terminals 440, 442, 444, and 446.

The wireless network infrastructure 402 may be packet switched, circuitswitched, or a combination of packet switched and circuit switchedinfrastructure. The structure of wireless network infrastructure 404 maybe consistent with one or more standardized communication operatingprotocols. Coupled to wireless network infrastructure 402 are theInternet/WAN/LAN, or another type of network 404. A video source 448 anda video destination 452 couple to Internet/WAN/LAN 404. The video source448 may be a source of streamed video (and audio) ultimately deliveredby the wireless network 400 to a one or more of the wireless terminals424-444. Video destination 452 may receive video produced by one or moreof the wireless terminals 424-444.

Also coupled to wireless network infrastructure 402 is a WAN/LAN 406that couples to a video (and audio) source 450 and a video destination454. The video source 450 may be the source of the streamed videotransmitted to one or more of the wireless terminals 424-444 serviced bywireless network 400. Wireless network 400 of FIG. 4 may operateaccording to the operations 100 of FIG. 1. Further, the wirelessterminals 424-444 serviced by wireless network 400 of FIG. 4 may operateaccording to the operations 900 of FIG. 9 that will be described furtherherein.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a service area of a transceiving deviceof a wireless network operating according to one or more embodiments ofthe present invention. A service coverage area 504 is sectorized intosectors A, B, and C and is serviced by transceiving device 502. In afirst set of operations according to the present invention, transceivingdevice 502 services communications with at least one wireless terminalusing a first channel frequency set of a channel frequency reuse patternof the wireless network. Thus, the transceiving device 502, in someoperations, uses differing channels in each of sectors A, B, and C. Insuch case, transceiving device 502 services communications with thewireless terminal 506 and 508 within sector A using a first channel ofthe first channel frequency set. Further, transceiving device 502services communications with wireless terminals 510 and 512 withinsector C using a second channel of the first channel frequency set.Finally, in the first set of operations, the transceiving device 502services communications with wireless terminal 514 within sector B usinga third channel of the first channel frequency set.

According to the present invention, in a second set of operations, thetransceiving device 502 services the transmission of streamed video towireless terminals 516, 518, and 520 on a selected channel of a secondchannel frequency set that is different from the first channel frequencyset. As is generally shown, a transmission envelope 522 indicates thatthe transceiving device 502 directionally transmits the streamed videoto wireless terminals 516, 518, and 520 in a direction based uponposition information provided by the wireless terminals 516, 518, and520 previously. The transmission envelope 522 illustrated in FIG. 5 isshown to have transmit power sufficient to service the transmission ofthe streamed video to the wireless terminals 516, 518, and 520 but notto have transmit power that is greater than required. In such case,because the selected channel used to transmit the streamed video towireless terminals 516, 518, and 520 conflicts with channels used byadjacent cells or by next further neighbor adjacent cells, interferenceon the selected channel is minimized. In determining a directionality totransmit the streamed video to the wireless terminals 516, 518, and 520,the position information was previously received from the wirelessterminals 516, 518, and 520. This position information is used by atransceiving device 502 in order to configure its directional antennafor transmission of the streamed video.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating multiple transceiving devices of awireless network operating according to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention. Transceiving devices 602 and 606 of the wirelessnetwork service cells 604 and 608, respectively. Communications withineach of these cells 604 and 608 are sectorized into sectors A, B, and C.Because cells 604 and 608 are adjacent, the transceiving devices 602 and606 are allocated differing channel frequency sets of a channelfrequency reuse pattern.

According to a first set of operations according to embodiments of thepresent invention, transceiving device 602 services wireless terminals610, 612, 614, 616, and 618 using channels of the first channelfrequency set Likewise, transceiving device 606 services communicationswith the wireless terminals 622, 624, 626, 628, and 630 using channelsof an allocated channel frequency set that differs from the firstchannel frequency set allocated to transceiving device 602.

According to a second set of operations of the present invention, thewireless network, transceiving device 602 or transceiving device 606,receives, from wireless terminal 620, 632, and 634, a request totransmit streamed video to the wireless terminals. These requests may bereceived via the wireless network from transceiving devices other thanthe transceiving devices 602 and 606. The transceiving devices 602 and606 may send requests for location information to wireless terminal 620,632, and/or 634 that prompt the wireless terminals to report theirposition information. In response thereto or along with a request toreceive the streamed video, the transceiving devices 602 and 606 receivethe position information from the wireless terminals 620, 632, and 634.Based upon the received position information, the wireless network,which would typically include other transceiving devices, selects ordetermines the transceiving device that will service the transmission ofthe streamed video to the wireless terminals 620, 632, and 634. Thisdetermination is made based upon the position information that isreceived from wireless terminal 620, 632, and 634 and may be furtherbased upon other operating characteristics within the wireless network.These other operating characteristics may include the current loading ofthe transceiving devices 602 and 606, predetermined criterion forfavoring transceiving devices of 602 and 606, or other criterion thatwould make the servicing of the streamed video preferable for one of thetransceiving devices 602 or 606.

Then, based upon this determination, transceiving device 602directionally transmits the streamed video to the wireless terminal 620,632, and 634 on a selected channel from a second channel frequency setthat is different from the first channel frequency set. Thetransmission, as indicated by transmission envelope 634, is made usingtransmit power sufficient to service the streamed video and withoutunduly causing inter-cell interference within the wireless network. Asis illustrated in FIG. 6, the transmission envelope 634 represents adirectional transmission from transceiving device 602 that correspondsto the reported position information of wireless terminals 620, 632, and634.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a transceiving device of awireless network constructed according to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention. The (wireless network) transceiving device 702includes processing circuitry 704, memory 706, one or more wirelessinterfaces 708, one or more wireless network infrastructure interfaces710, and a user interface 712. The processing circuitry 704 may be oneor more of a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, an applicationspecific integrated circuit, dedicated processing circuitry, or otherprocessing circuitry that is capable of executing instructions basedupon programs logic. Memory 706 may be any type of memory capable ofstoring digital information including data and instructions. Such memory706 may be random access memory, read-only memory, hard disk drivememory, optical memory, or another type of memory.

The wireless interface(s) 708 may support a single operating standard,e.g. a WLAN standard, a WWAN standard, a cellular standard, or maysupport a plurality of communication standards. The wireless interface708 supports at least one directional antenna coupled thereto to producethe directional transmission of streamed video to one or more wirelessterminals. The wireless network infrastructure interface 710 couples thewireless network transceiving device to a servicing wireless networkinfrastructure such as wireless network infrastructure 402 illustratedin FIG. 4. The wireless network infrastructure interface 710 may includewired and/or wireless interface components. For example, when thetransceiving device 702 is a WLAN device, it may simply couple viawireless network to other components of the wireless networkinfrastructure. Further, when the transceiving device 702 is a cellularbase station, the wireless network infrastructure interface 710 mayservice a microwave communication link with other components of thewireless network infrastructure.

The transceiving device 702 operates consistently with the structuresand operations previously illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1-6. Inorder to support such functionality, the processing circuitry 704performs normal operations, video streaming operations 716 and mayperform video processing operations 718. The memory 706 supports theseoperations of the transceiving device 702 by storing instructions,including normal operation instructions 720, video streaminginstructions 722, and video processing instructions 724. The memory 706may also store video content 726. The instructions and data stored inmemory 706 is accessed by processing circuitry 704 to support theoperations of the present invention in streaming video to wirelessdevices.

The transceiving device 702 may include dedicated processing circuitryto support operations according to embodiments of the present inventionand other operations. The dedicated processing circuitry may includevideo encoding circuitry, decoding circuitry, and video transcodingcircuitry 714. While this circuitry is referenced via a single numeraland showed as a single block, such circuitry may be subdivided intodiffering functional blocks in the wireless network transceiving device702. User interface 712 may include interfaces to a monitor, a userinput device such a key board and a mouse, and/or other components auser may employ to interact with the wireless network transceivingdevice 702.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless terminal constructedaccording to one or more embodiments of the present invention. Thewireless terminal 802 includes processing circuitry 804, memory 806, oneor more wireless interfaces 808, a Global Positioning System (GPS)receiver 810, a user interface 812, and video encoding/decodingcircuitry 814. The processing circuitry 804 may be any type ofprocessing circuitry that supports the operations of the presentinvention by execution of instructions and processing of digitalinformation. The processing circuitry may be specialized, generalized,or a combination of specialized and generalized circuitry. Theprocessing circuitry 804 supports normal operations apart from thepresent invention. The processing circuitry 804 supports the operationsof the present invention relating to video streaming 816 and videoprocessing 818.

Memory 806 may be any type of memory that is capable of storing andproducing digital information. Examples of memory 806 and processingcircuitry 804 were previously described with reference to FIG. 7 withreference to a transceiving device 702. Similar or same types ofcomponents enabling memory 806 and processing circuitry 804 may beemployed with the wireless terminal 802. In accomplishing operations ofthe present invention, memory 806 stores normal operation instructions802, video streaming instructions 822, and video processing instructions824. Memory 806 may also store video content 826 that is produced basedupon the received streamed video and subsequently processed. Videocontent 826 may be retrieved for later presentation to a user via theuser interface 812. The user interface 812 may include a display, audiointerface, user input interface, and other known or anticipated userinterface devices. Dedicated video encoding/decoding circuitry 814 mayperform video processing operations according to the present inventionfor the creation of streamed video and for the receipt and processingthe streamed video to create video content 826.

The wireless interfaces 808 may include one or more cellular interfaces,one or more WLAN interfaces, one or more WWAN interfaces and/or one ormore Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) interfaces. The GPS receiver810 may be conventional and is employed according to the presentinvention to determine a current position of the wireless terminal 802.Further operations of the wireless terminal 802 that has not beenpreviously described via reference to FIGS. 1-7 are described furtherwith reference to FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a wireless terminalaccording to one or more embodiments of the present invention. Theoperations 900 of FIG. 9 may be employed by any of the various wirelessterminals previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-8 herein.Operation 900 of FIG. 9 commences with performing a first set ofoperations (Step 902) and/or a second set of operations (Step 906).Interaction between the first set of operations 902 and the second setof operations 906 may be completely separate or may be overlapping. Forexample, a wireless terminal may concurrently execute the first set ofoperations 902 and the second set of operations 906 to service bothnormal communications with a wireless network and the receipt ofstreamed video from the wireless network. Thus, even though Steps902-914 and Steps 906-914 are shown separately, these steps may beperformed concurrently by a wireless terminal with the presentinvention.

With the first set of operations 902, the wireless terminal communicateswith the transceiving device with the wireless network using a firstchannel frequency set (Step 904). This first channel frequency set usedin Step 904 is consistent with the channel frequency reuse pattern of awireless network within which the wireless terminal operates. As waspreviously described, in the second set of operations, a channel isselected for the streaming of video from a second channel frequency setthat is different from the first channel frequency set. Thus, when thefirst set of operations 902-904 are performed concurrently with thesecond set of operations 906-914, the wireless terminal may becommunicating with a transceiving device on channels of differingchannel frequency sets of the channel frequency reuse pattern.

With the second set of operations 906, the wireless terminal transmits arequest to a transceiving device of the wireless network for streamedvideo (Step 908). Concurrently with the request for the streamed videoor subsequently in response to a request from the transceiving device ofthe wireless network, the wireless terminal transmits its positioninformation to a transceiving device of the wireless network (Step 910).This position information may be determined based upon access of the GPSreceiver of the wireless terminal. Operation continues with the wirelessterminal receiving a channel assignment from the second channelfrequency set that is different from the first channel frequency set(Step 912). Then, operation continues with the wireless terminalreceiving the streamed video from the transceiving device of thewireless network on the assigned channel (Step 914). From Step 914 orStep 904, operation may return to either or both of the first set ofoperations 902 or 906.

The terms “circuit” and “circuitry” as used herein may refer to anindependent circuit or to a portion of a multifunctional circuit thatperforms multiple underlying functions. For example, depending on theembodiment, processing circuitry may be implemented as a single chipprocessor or as a plurality of processing chips Likewise, a firstcircuit and a second circuit may be combined in one embodiment into asingle circuit or, in another embodiment, operate independently perhapsin separate chips. The term “chip”, as used herein, refers to anintegrated circuit. Circuits and circuitry may comprise general orspecific purpose hardware, or may comprise such hardware and associatedsoftware such as firmware or object code.

The present invention has also been described above with the aid ofmethod steps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the performance of certainsignificant functions. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description.Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significantfunctions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocksmay also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certainsignificant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram blockboundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and stillperform the certain significant functionality. Such alternatedefinitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocksand sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that thefunctional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules andcomponents herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discretecomponents, application specific integrated circuits, processorsexecuting appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “coupled to” and/or “coupling” and/or includes direct couplingbetween items and/or indirect coupling between items via an interveningitem (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, anelement, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirect coupling, theintervening item does not modify the information of a signal but mayadjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As mayfurther be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element iscoupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirectcoupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As mayeven further be used herein, the term “operable to” indicates that anitem includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s),etc., to perform one or more its corresponding functions and may furtherinclude inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may stillfurther be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes directand/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item beingembedded within another item. As may be used herein, the term “comparesfavorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items,signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when thedesired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude thansignal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude ofsignal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude ofsignal 2 is less than that of signal 1.

The present invention has also been described above with the aid ofmethod steps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

Moreover, although described in detail for purposes of clarity andunderstanding by way of the aforementioned embodiments, the presentinvention is not limited to such embodiments. It will be obvious to oneof average skill in the art that various changes and modifications maybe practiced within the spirit and scope of the invention, as limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for transmitting streamed video toat least one wireless terminal by a wireless network, the wirelessnetwork having a channel frequency reuse pattern, the method comprising:receiving a request for the streamed video from the at least onewireless terminal; selecting a transceiving device of the wirelessnetwork to service transmission of the streamed video to the at leastone wireless terminal; selecting a channel in contradistinction to thechannel frequency reuse pattern of the wireless network for thetransceiving device to service transmission of the streamed video to theat least one wireless terminal; and transmitting the streamed video fromthe transceiving device to the at least one wireless terminal using theselected channel.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving position information from the at least one wireless terminalrequesting the streamed video; and using a directional antenna of thetransceiving device to transmit the streamed video from the transceivingdevice to the at least one wireless terminal in a direction based uponthe position information.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein receivingposition information from the at least one wireless terminal requestingthe streamed video comprises receiving Global Positioning System (GPS)coordinates from the at least one wireless terminal.
 4. The method ofclaim 2, further comprising sending a position information request tothe at least one wireless terminal.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising coordinating in time the transmitting of the streamed videowith communications serviced by a differing transceiving device of thewireless network to reduce interference between communications on theselected channel.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprisingcontrolling transmit power of the transmitted streamed video to reduceinterference with communications on the selected channel serviced by atleast one differing transceiving device of the wireless network.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein: the at least one wireless terminal comprisesa plurality of wireless terminals; and controlling transmit power of thetransmitted streamed video to reduce interference with communications onthe selected channel serviced by a differing transceiving device isbased upon feedback received regarding received signal quality of thestreamed video from the plurality of wireless terminals.
 8. The methodof claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless terminal comprises aplurality of terminals and the streamed video is transmitted to theplurality of terminals.
 9. A transceiving device of a wireless networkfor transmitting streamed video to at least one wireless terminal, thewireless network having a channel frequency reuse pattern, thetransceiving device comprising: a communication interface including atleast one wireless interface, the communication interface servicingcommunication with the at least one wireless terminal and with otherwireless network devices; and processing circuitry coupled to thewireless interface and operable to: receive a request via thecommunication interface to transmit the streamed video to the at leastone wireless terminal; select a channel in contradistinction to thechannel frequency reuse pattern to service transmission of the streamedvideo to the at least one wireless terminal; and transmitting via thecommunication interface the streamed video to the at least one wirelessterminal using the selected channel.
 10. The transceiving device ofclaim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to:receive position information via the communication interface from the atleast one wireless terminal requesting the streamed video; anddirectionally transmit the streamed video to the at least one wirelessterminal in a direction based upon the position information.
 11. Thetransceiving device of claim 10, wherein the position informationcomprises Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of the at leastone wireless terminal.
 12. The transceiving device of claim 10, whereinthe processing circuitry is further operable to transmit via thecommunication interface a position information request to the at leastone wireless terminal.
 13. The transceiving device of claim 9, whereinthe processing circuitry is further operable to coordinate in time thetransmitting of the streamed video with communications serviced by adiffering transceiving device of the wireless network to reduceinterference between communications on the selected channel.
 14. Thetransceiving device of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry isfurther operable to control transmit power of the transmitted streamedvideo to reduce interference with communications on the selected channelserviced by at least one differing transceiving device of the wirelessnetwork.
 15. The transceiving device of claim 14, wherein: the at leastone wireless terminal comprises a plurality of wireless terminals; andthe control of transmit power of the transmitted streamed video toreduce interference with communications on the selected channel servicedby a differing transceiving device is based upon feedback receivedregarding received signal quality of the streamed video from theplurality of wireless terminals.
 16. The transceiving device of claim 9,wherein the at least one wireless terminal comprises a plurality ofterminals and the streamed video is transmitted to the plurality ofterminals.
 17. A portable electronic device for receiving streamed videofrom a transceiving device of a wireless network, the wireless networkhaving a channel frequency reuse pattern, the portable electronic devicecomprising: a communication interface; and processing circuitry coupledto the communication interface, the processing circuitry operable to:transmit a request via the communication interface to the transceivingdevice of the wireless network to receive the streamed video; receive achannel assignment that is in contradistinction to the channel frequencyreuse pattern to receive transmission of the streamed video; and receivevia the communication interface the streamed video using the selectedchannel.
 18. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein theprocessing circuitry is further operable to transmit positioninformation via the communication interface to the transceiving deviceof the wireless network.
 19. The portable electronic device of claim 18,further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver operableto determine the position information.
 20. The portable electronicdevice of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is further operableto receive a position information request from the transceiving devicevia the communication interface.